The RheinEnergie Cologne School Marathon will be organized on October 3, 2010 according to Kölner Verein für Marathon e. V. rules as follows:

7 pupils run about 5km, 10km, 5km, 10km, 5km, and 7.195km in an EKIDEN relay team. The 7th child is a stand-by runner and may - when not replacing any team member - accompany one of his/her fellow runners except for the finisher. 

There is a scoring in 6 different categories according to gender (W = women, M = men, X = mixed including at least 2 girls each running a section) and total age of the team members:  

W89 / M89 / X89 = total age of the 6 runners is maximal 89 years

W90 / M90 / X90 = total age of the 6 runners is at least 90 years and over.

Each team needs a self-made, 5-10cm wide "tasuki" (sash) that reaches at least to the hips of all team members.
Material and inscription (name of the school!) are to be functional, the basic colour very light or dark, the inscription contrasting. This sash will also be handed over to the following runner as will be the timing chip.

All schools that are willing to integrate endurance training as a continual element of (extra-)curricular sports and offer a long-distance running event (e. g. as a 'mini marathon' of 4.2km) for possibly numerous pupils once a year are allowed to take part. 

Various organizational forms for this 'mini marathon' are imaginable, e. g.: 

• A mini marathon embedded in a kind of game and sport event (youth games) for at least 25% of the school's pupils
• After an appropriate training at least 50% of all pupils absolve a 4.2km 'endurance test' without any timekeeping during their physical education
• ...

The governing body of the school is to officially register the relay teams of all type of schools (secondary school, grammar school, etc.). The total age of the 6 runners does not exceed or undershoot the above-mentioned divisions. Every relay team is to present the official bib number, a 'tasuki' (sash) and a timing chip.

Pupils are to run for one relay team and one course section only. Starting for more than one relay team and/or running more than one course section leads to direct disqualification!

The limit for participation is a maximum of 420 relay teams and 2,520 pupils respectively + 420 stand-by runners. Should the number of teams exceed this limit prior to the registration deadline we will set up a waiting list. Bids are accepted prior to August 31, 2010.

Please note that, due to a strict timeframe, the relay teams are to complete the competition within a gross time of 6:00 hours. Otherwise you will be taken off the course and brought to the finish area by bus. The course has to be re-opened then for public traffic according to City of Cologne guidelines.

You are to pay the following registration fees depending on the time period you register:

Additionally you are to pay a rental fee of EUR 10.00 per relay team for the rental chip that is to return on race day prior to 6 p. m. at the Ottoplatz in the finish area. You will then receive your medals.

All relay teams may be registered online prior to August 31, 2010. Please send us the form attached to the email confirmation with the signature and the stamp of your governing body in addition.

Registrations via phone will not be accepted! Without the approval of the governing body of the school relay teams are not allowed to start!

We will close the registration on August 31, 2010  (unless the participation limit will is not reached earlier).

On May 26, 2010 we will organize an advanced training and informative meeting for the teachers and coaches. 

We will hand out preordered mini marathon certificates, as well as diverse information material for our event.

Further assistance for preparation and conduct may also be found at www.bildung.koeln.de/schulsport (in German only) in May 2010.

All relay teams are called on to also participate in the 'hottest sash' contest (cf. indication on the registration form).
Please send a picture of a team member wearing the sash and 'tasuki' respectively (maximal size 1 MB!) PRIOR to September 15, 2010 to the following email address.

We will award the most creative and most original entry at the category award ceremony in November/December 2010.

Bib numbers will be allocated automatically after your registration, included in the official email confirmation and then published in the starters’ list in the internet.

In the online registration you may choose your personally preferred bib number within a defined bib number range for EUR 2.00 per person – as long as the number is not allocated yet.

You will be handed out a one-piece coloured bib number for the corresponding starting block (e. g. red bib number = red starting block). Make sure you fill in the form on the reverse side for possible medical treatment and pin your race number in breast height on the front of your jersey/t-shirt using the pins provided in the bag.

If you wear a race number belt please look for a visible pinning on your stomach.

Disguising, concealing, or deviating the sponsors bar also leads to immediate disqualification!

The Marathon expo located in the Koelnmesse offers diverse novelties from the fields of running, inline skating, fitness, wellness, and health. You may also be provided with information on latest trends and products and you may talk to experts. The event is free and the public is welcome. Please pick up your race packets here.

Our opening hours (may be subject to change):

The race packet pick-up will be on September 27, 2010 in the Radstadion/Sportpark Muengersdorf in Cologne. The teacher will receive the bib numbers XYZ/2 to XYZ/7 by presenting the official email confirmation or personal ID.

Bib number XYZ/1 will be handed out on race day at the school marathon meeting point to the first runners when presenting the current starters' list, tasuki, and chip at the ankle.

Chronometry is exclusively carried out by Mika timing with the RealTime ChampionChip. You must wear a chip to get an official finishing time!

All relay teams rent a single-use chip for race day. We will charge the rental fee of EUR 10.00 per chip with the registration fee.

Please fasten your ChampionChip at your ankle (not on the sash!) with the black strip in your race packets. If the chip is worn too high above ground chronometry will not be possible!

Make sure that you overrun all chronometry mats along the course. Lacking interval times may cause in disqualification.

Please return the rental chip on race day prior to 6:00 p. m. at the Ottoplatz in the finish area. You will then receive your medals.

Wardrobes may be found near the Marathon expo in the finish area. Showers with warm water are also available near the wardrobes.

Marathoners will start in several starting blocks consecutively.

All first school marathon runners will be guided to the starting area and follow the top athletes and sportspeople in the first starting block.

Starting times (may be subject to change!)

• 08:00 a. m. 10km run
  
• 08:45 a. m. half marathon, diverse starts
• 10:20 a. m. skate marathon - "speed/teams" category women
• 10:22 a. m. skate marathon - "speed/teams" category men
• 10:23 a. m. skate marathon - "fitness" category, 2 blocks
• 11:15 a. m. hand cycle marathon - lying cyclists, then open category (kneeing and sitting cyclists)
• 11:30 a. m. marathon, diverse starts including school marathon and cultural relay teams

The transition zones will be installed along the marathon course. Consequently, the pupils have to run about 5, 10, 5, 10, 5, and 7.195km.

Within these transition zones the timing chip and the sash have to be handed over to the next relay team member.

The overall course as well as the starting and finish areas will be monitored by medical services and doctors. This personnel is entitled to take off sportspeople with indications of injuries and/or overexertion from the race.

Our event will be organized according to DLV guidelines and specification of the organizing institution.
A violation of these provisions will directly lead to disqualification, i. e.:

• starting without any bib number
• starting in the wrong starting block (to be monitored via chronometry!)
• alteration of the bib number such as concealing or deviating the sponsors bar
• starting without any RealTime ChampionChip
• lacking interval times
• exceeding the given time limit (gross time!)
• wearing your own t-shirt or jersey
• abandoning or shortening the track
• undershooting the required age
• carrying along baby buggies, baby joggers etc.
• incorrect transfer within the transition zones (both, sash and timing chip, have to be delivered!)

Please consider the other participants, particularly of the marathoners. These sportspeople have to absolve more kilometers than you! Thank you.

All final relay team members finishing within the gross time limit will be welcomed by school marathon staff and guided to the meeting point. At the Ottoplatz all relay team runners will obtain a medal from their teachers.

The on-stage ceremony award of the fastest relay team will be held approximately 60min after the finish of the final runner in the finish area including all relay team members.

We will award all category winners about 8 weeks after our event. The corresponding relay teams will be invited separately.

You may order the most important merchandise articles in your registration.

A larger variety will be offered at the marathon expo or year-round in our online shop.

You may order the most important merchandise articles including the partipant shirt in your registration.

A larger variety will be offered at the marathon expo or year-round in our online shop.

If you are searching for appropriate accommodation, please contact our partner hotel and book a special marathon offer.

Dorint An der Messe Köln
phone: +49 221 / 80 19 00


Further information on hotels, pensions or guest houses etc. may be obtained from the local tourist agency.

KoelnTourimus
phone: +49 221 / 221-30400

Participants
372 relay teams (2,604 pupils)
341 finished relay teams (2,387 pupils)

Winning relay team

Should you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us Monday till Thursday from 9 a. m. to 1 p. m. at:

Organizer
Kölner Verein für Marathon e. V.
Sportpark Müngersdorf/Radstadion
Peter-Günther-Weg
50933 Köln (Cologne)
GERMANY

Operational implementation
Köln Marathon Veranstaltungs- und Werbe GmbH
Sportpark Müngersdorf/Radstadion
Peter-Günther-Weg
50933 Köln (Cologne)
GERMANY